Last year's general election was widely, if inaccurately, seen as a kick in the teeth for liberalising reforms from the poor rural majority.

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Lord Jones, a former CBI chief and trade minister in Gordon Brown's government, said Mr Miliband's speech had been "divisive and a kick in the teeth" for business.

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The Orange Grand Master, Robert Saulters, said he believes the commission is biased against Protestants: "Last year we did it the quiet way and what thanks did we get for it, we got no thanks at all, this is what we're getting for it, a kick in the teeth", he said.

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Others described it as a "step backwards", "the wrong decision", "a shocking decision" and a "kick in the teeth".

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He said council tax rises were a "kick in the teeth for hard-working, decent taxpayers".

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The decision to allow the wind farm works to proceed caused political concern last year, with Tory MSP Alex Fergusson calling it a "kick in the teeth" for democracy.

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The independent Cornwall councillor for Porthleven and Helston South, Andrew Wallis, said BIH's decision was a "kick in the teeth" for the communities of the islands and west Cornwall.

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